Dozens of people turned out from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday for a Second Amendment Rally sponsored by the Tea Party of Greater Gaston County.

The event at Shooters Express in Belmont was timed to coincide with the 238th anniversary of Patrick Henry’s famed “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech, which took place on March 23, 1775.

During the rally, The Gazette asked several people the following question: “Do you feel your Second Amendment rights are being threatened, and if so, why?”

Here are their responses:

Josh Brewer - Belmont

“Yeah, I think so. Just because of all the government regulations and stipulations they’re trying to put on us.”

John Ervay - Gastonia

“Yes. I believe our government has been so intrusive here in the last four years. There’s a group that wants to label guns as the problem when it’s really a problem with people. They need to put more money into mental health and know what we’re putting on TV and in movies. It’s not the guns, it’s our society in general. We need to clean these other areas up, and most of the problems will take care of themselves.”

Donna Grant - Gastonia

“Yes. They keep wanting to know who owns guns and why they own guns. Usually the crimes that are committed are not with legal guns. They’re with illegal guns. I think there needs to be more education and help for the people who have mental health issues. The people who own the guns legally and go through all the right channels are not the ones you have to worry about.”

Adam Forcade - Bessemer City

“Yes, of course they’re threatened. They’re threatened daily. The prevailing attitude in Washington that we need more gun control instead of criminal control. They’re trying to fix a symptom rather than a problem. The lead speaker today said it best: A gun has never killed anybody.”

Tricia Morris - Gastonia

“Yes. Because of the Democrats and the Obama administration. (U.S. Sen. Diane) Feinstein and (U.S. Sen. Charles) Schumer intend to take away guns. They’ve even said handguns are next. Once they get one thing, they’re going to go for another. I really believe that. I think they’re trying to use emotions to get people to fall in line behind them.”